Relativism and Realism in Science (Studies in History and Philosophy of Science, 6)

The institutionalization of History and Philosophy of Science as a distinct field of scholarly endeavour began comparatively earl- though not always under that name - in the Australasian region. An initial lecturing appointment was made at the University of Melbourne immediately after the Second World War, in 1946, and other appoint­ ments followed as the subject underwent an expansion during the 1950s and 1960s similar to that which took place in other parts of the world. Today there are major Departments at the University of Melbourne, the University of New South Wales and the University of Wollongong, and smaller groups active in many other parts of Australia and in New Zealand. "Australasian Studies in History and Philosophy of Science" aims to provide a distinctive publication outlet for Australian and New Zealand scholars working in the general area of history, philosophy and social studies of science. Each volume comprises a group of essays on a connected theme, edited by an Australian or a New Zealander with special expertise in that particular area. Papers address general issues, however, rather than local ones; parochial topics are avoided. Further­ more, though in each volume a majority of the contributors is from Australia or New Zealand, contributions from elsewhere are by no means ruled out. Quite the reverse, in fact - they are actively encour­ aged wherever appropriate to the balance of the volume in question. The institutionalization of History and Philosophy of Science as a distinct field of scholarly endeavour began comparatively earl- though not always under that name - in the Australasian region. An initial lecturing appointment was made at the University of Melbourne immediately after the Second World War, in 1946, and other appointƯ ments followed as the subject underwent an expansion during the 1950s and 1960s similar to that which took place in other parts of the world. Today there are major Departments at the University of Melbourne, the University of New South Wales and the University of Wollongong, and smaller groups active in many other parts of Australia and in New Zealand. "Australasian Studies in History and Philosophy of Science" aims to provide a distinctive publication outlet for Australian and New Zealand scholars working in the general area of history, philosophy and social studies of science. Each volume comprises a group of essays on a connected theme, edited by an Australian or a New Zealander with special expertise in that particular area. Papers address general issues, however, rather than local ones; parochial topics are avoided. FurtherƯ more, though in each volume a majority of the contributors is from Australia or New Zealand, contributions from elsewhere are by no means ruled out. Quite the reverse, in fact - they are actively encourƯ aged wherever appropriate to the balance of the volume in question Front Matter....Pages i-ix Introduction: Some Issues Concerning Relativism and Realism in Science....Pages 1-35 Does the Sociology of Science Discredit Science?....Pages 37-57 It’s All in the Day’s Work: A Study of the Ethnomethodology of Science....Pages 59-80 The Strong Sociology of Knowledge Without Relativism....Pages 81-91 Evolutionary Epistemology and Relativism....Pages 93-115 Are All Theories Equally Good? A Dialogue....Pages 117-139 Realism and Descriptivism....Pages 141-167 On a Dogma Concerning Realism and Incommensurability....Pages 169-203 Realism in the Social Sciences: Social Kinds and Social Laws....Pages 205-227 The Ultimate Argument for Scientific Realism....Pages 229-252 Radical Pluralism — An Alternative to Realism, Anti-Realism and Relativism....Pages 253-291 Back Matter....Pages 293-301